roodn.[AS. rd a cross; akin to OS. rda, D. roede rod, G. ruthe, rute, OHG. ruota. Cf. Rod a measure.]1. A representation in sculpture or in painting of the cross with Christ hanging on it.()()Savior, in thine image seen
Bleeding on that precious rood. (Wordsworth.)2. A measure of five and a half yards in length; a rod; a perch; a pole.()3. The fourth part of an acre, or forty square rods.()By the rood, by the cross; -- a phrase formerly used in swearing. No, by the rood, not so. Shak. -- Rood beam (Arch.), a beam across the chancel of a church, supporting the rood. -- Rood loft (Arch.), a loft or gallery, in a church, on which the rood and its appendages were set up to view. Gwilt. -- Rood screen (Arch.), a screen, between the choir and the body of the church, over which the rood was placed. Fairholt. -- Rood tower (Arch.), a tower at the intersection of the nave and transept of a church; -- when crowned with a spire it was called also rood steeple. Weale. -- Rood tree, the cross. [Obs.] Died upon the rood tree. Gower.()